The Delhi High Court dismissed the plea to ban burqas and other veils in public in Delhi
The Delhi High Court today refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation or PIL seeking a ban on burqas and other veils in public places due to security threat to the capital, saying it is not a public interest matter.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangeeta Dhingra Sehgal dismissed the plea saying, "If it is a policy decision, the government will take care of it. How can we entertain it (PIL) under Article 226 (power of High Courts to issue certain writs). We cannot interfere in this writ petition."
The plea sought a ban on wearing veils including burqas, helmets, hoods among others at public places like transport, government buildings and heritage sites in the capital on the ground of threat from terror activities.
The plea, filed by Sardar Ravi Ranjan Singh, alleged, "The use of face coverings and wearing of full body cover like the burqa is a serious security issue and citizens are put to constant risk and fear in the capital which is in violation of Article 21(protection of life and personal liberty) of the
Constitution of India."
It further said, "There is a rapid growth in terrorist activities and that the perpetrators of these criminal acts show no respect to burqa and ruthlessly use it as an instrument to carry out 'fidayeen' attacks."
The petitioner also referred to the recent attacks in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir and said public safety and the government offices in the capital are at constant risk.
"Face veils, burqas can be used to prevent identification at border check-posts etc. Further, criminals and extremists can use burqas to skip checking at police posts and barricades," the PIL which made the Central government, Delhi government and National Security Council as parties, said.